McFarlane joins Mackenzie at Dixon Yamaha.

Yamaha UK-Dixon Racing have announced their official line up for the 2004 World Motocross Championship, MX2 class - formerly the 125cc category.

Main news is that current Kawasaki MX GP contender Andrew McFarlane has signed to join teenage Scottish sensation, 19-year-old Billy Mackenzie, in a two man team riding Rinaldi Yamaha 250F four-stroke machinery.

Twenty-six-year old Australian McFarlane will be one of several riders competing in the World Championship to receive the full factory support of Yamaha Europe and the Rinaldi Group. He will benefit from the technology that has seen Andrea Bartolini and more recently Stefan Everts taking Grand Prix win after win.

For McFarlane it will be a chance to work with some of the familiar faces again, Team Rinaldi first noticed the talented 'ozzie' and introduced him to his new European life back in 2001 when he joined Rinaldi for his first assault on the 500cc GP circuit, he took to the podium several times before moving to the 250cc and MXGP class at the end of that year.

"I see the move to the MX2 class as a new challenge in my life, I have worked with Michelle Rinaldi and Yamaha before so I know just how professional and dedicated they are to winning championships, they have a high opinion of Steve Dixon and the efforts that he puts into the sport," said McFarlane.

"I have put a lot of effort into my racing since moving to Europe three years ago, I have enjoyed the past two season with Jan De Groot and Team Kawasaki Racing but I feel that a fresh challenge is what I need, my results have improved with each ride this season, moving over the Yamaha 250F four-stroke I am confident that success will not be far away," he added. "I will continue to live and train in Belgium where I have established a home and base, I will commute to British races and to Steve Dixon's workshop when needed for testing."

Although he won't have the same machinery as McFarlane, rising star Mackenzie will start his sixth season with Dixon on Rinaldi 'kitted' machinery.

"I am really looking forward to working with Andrew next season, he brings with him a lot of experience and knowledge," said Billy. "After missing virtually the whole of this season through injury I will be working very hard to get myself back up to speed, but I am sure that we will both benefit from what each rider brings to the team with their own experiences.

"I know that it has been a very frustrating time for Steve Dixon but I feel the same way, I can't wait to get back to work and make up for the time lost this year, I will be back on a bike within one month, I am already cycling and having extensive physiotherapy to get my fitness back, by the time we start working together in the new year we will be able to start serious testing ready for the 2004 championships," he stated.

"I am delighted to have been able to sign a rider of Andrew's calibre, he is no stranger to working with Yamaha and Rinaldi machinery," began manager Steve Dixon. "The new MX2 class, formerly the 125cc class is going to be a very tough class next year, it was always lingering in the shadows of the MXGP class but I think now the two categories will provide equal interest with the world championship reverting back to the two moto format. Andrew will join us in January of 2004 when Billy Mackenzie will also be fully recovered from his serious foot injury, we can start working together with one common goal, to win both the World and British Championships for Yamaha and the rest of our team's loyal sponsors."

As well as competing in a 16 round Grand Prix series, McFarlane and Mackenzie, the 'Mac Attack Team' will also race in the British Motocross Championship, one of the most demanding and competitive series in the world with its top international line up of riders from Europe, the USA, South Africa, Asia and New Zealand.